One of the most anticipated gacha titles of 2026 is almost here.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely been waiting with bated breath for the release of Arknights: Endfield. The hype surrounding this upcoming game is only matched by fans’ deep admiration for its developer Hypergryph, and for good reason.
Hypergryph is a company that’s always tried to do right by their players and be as generous as possible, so much so that they’ve built up a solid reputation in the industry. So it stands to reason that with the studio’s first foray into 3D games, a lot of people would be excited.
But for those of you who may not know what all the fuss is about, let’s get up to speed. Arknights: Endfield is an ambitious…
- Semi-Open World,
- Action RPG,
- Factory Management Base Building,
- Gacha Game
That sounds like A LOT, I know, but it’s a title with many features and exciting content to discover!
The game features an expansive main line story quest, multiple open areas to explore, and farm, areas to build bases and set up factories, and so much more. With the game coming next week, now’s the perfect time to answer some questions and help you prepare for the next big gacha title!
When is Arknights: Endfield Releasing?
Well, that depends on where you are in the world.
The short answer is that the game releases January 22nd, 2026 at 9:00 AM (GMT+8). If you don’t live in the timezone given, see the other release times per region here.
Is Arknights: Endfield F2P Friendly?
This is a sort of nuanced question: surely a lot of people know that gacha games can get pretty expensive at times due to their in-game purchases. That being said, if you’ve got the self-control required, the game is 100% free to play.
In addition, the developers Hypergryph has a reputation for being very fair and generous to its playerbase, so you can likely expect to spend less in this game than most others in the industry.
How Can I Play Arknights: Endfield?
Arknights: Endfield is slated for release on PC, Playstation 5, iOS, and Android platforms.
PC
In terms of accessibility on PC, you can either download the all new Gryphline Launcher or download the game from the Epic Games Store.
In terms of minimum specifications, you’ll require the following:
- an Intel Core i5-9400f,
- a GTX 1060 with 6GB of RAM,
- 16GB of system RAM,
- and 105GB of storage (compressed to 60GB after installation is completed)
The recommended PC includes at least i7-10700k and RTX 2060, or better.
Android
In terms of phones, the minimum Android requirements are:
- a Snapdragon 855 or better,
- at least 6GB of RAM,
- Android OS 10 or Harmony OS 2.0,
- and 28GB of storage
The recommended specs are:
- a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or better processor,
- 8GB of RAM,
- and Android OS 11 or Harmony OS 4.0
Curious if you meet the requirements? Snapdragon 855 phones were released in 2019-2020 and include phones like the Samsung Galaxy S10, Xiaomi Mi9, and the OnePlus 7/7Pro.
Phones that include the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 include models like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the OnePlus 10T.
Apple Specs
In terms of Apple devices, you’ll require:
- either an iPhone 11 or iPad with an A13 Processor,
- 4GB of RAM or better,
- on iOS 15,
- and have 28GB of storage
Hypergryph recommends an iPhone 13 Pro or better, specifically mentioning the A15 processor and 6GB of RAM.
Playstation 5
Lastly is the Playstation 5. Though we don’t need to talk about the technical specs, we do know the file size.
To install the game on Playstation, you’ll need at least 60GB of space to install. This is subject to change, and we’ll be sure to update you here for anything new!
It’s also worth mentioning the Playstation Store currently has an exclusive $9.99 USD pre-order bundle that includes:
- 5 Basic HH Permits
- 50,000 T-Creds
- 10 Intermediate Combat Records
- 10 Arms Inspectors,
- and 10 Fortifying Infusions
Can You Pre-Load Arknights: Endfield?
There’s no official confirmation of pre-downloads opening, but in the meantime, you can always pre-register now, and even earn some free rewards through the Final Prep Orders web event.
What is Arknights: Endfield’s Story and Gameplay Like?
The Story
Arknights: Endfield is a separate adventure set in the same universe as Arknights. The game takes place on the unexplored moon of Talos-II, many years after Terrans colonized it.
As the player you take control of the Endministrator, the head of Endfield Industries, and lead a team of operators to explore the world of Talos-II, fight the corruption, and expand Endfield Industries influence while helping colonies of Terrans along the way.
Gameplay
Combat isn’t the only aspect to expanding your influence and assisting colonies though.
To meet colony demands and fulfill orders, a majority of your outreach will be establishing and improving strategically placed outposts and manufacturing facilities. The game takes elements of games like Factorio or Satisfactory and combines it with semi-open world exploration and combat.
Though combat isn’t the main focus, it’s still important because there’s quite a bit of fighting. Your team will consist of four operators with real-time switching, but there are a few key differences compared to similar titles.
While you can switch between your operators at will, all four operators are always on the field, and their skills and ultimate abilities are always available whenever.
Other Mechanics
In addition to the factories, exploration, and combat, there are also base management aspects on your home base: the Dijiang. There, you’ll grow plants, craft materials, and interact with your operators. Feel free to talk and gift them items to increase their trust in you!
Readers familiar with the original Arknights game may notice a lot of similarities, and that’s for good reason. Arknights: Endfield is poised to be a true evolution of the franchise that fully embraces all the things that made the original game fantastic.
Time Investment
You can expect to play roughly 50-60 hours for the main story and exploration. This is based on the previous closed beta test, but completionists can expect to spend at least 100 hours on just exploring, completing quests, base building, and leveling operators.
“This all sounds amazing! But I don’t want to take your word for it…”
Trust me, I wouldn’t either. Luckily, Hypergryph‘s got a quick Gameplay Demo you can check out below:
Want a short trailer to watch instead? They’ve got you covered too! Advance and expand, Endministrator!
This is a big moment for the genre, as well for Hypergryph as they take their biggest franchise into the 3D world. And I, for one, can’t WAIT to see it!
Check out our expansive guides on Arknights: Endfield here. From the Automated Industry Complex to the Gear you need, Icy Veins has you covered A-Z!
